Long before streaming platforms and social media shaped the way we discovered music, songs found their audience through personal connections. Delhi-based band Parikrama took shape and became one of India's most popular rock acts, delivering songs such as But It Rained, Open Skies and Tears of the Wizard.
Ahead of World Music Day, we speak to Parikrama founding member Subir Malik about a journey that began as a four-month passion project at Delhi University's Kirori Mal College.
Malik believes today's musicians have access to opportunities that did not exist when Parikrama began its journey. In the '90s, the only way to reach a wider audience was through record companies, but Parikrama chose a different path.
They gave out hundreds of blank CDs to students with a message: 'Go and pirate it as much as you want!' This allowed them to give out more music to their fans than people who actually tried to sell records.
Recalling a moment that reinforced music's ability to bring people together, Malik goes back to the early '90s and one of the first Parikrama and Friends event, a live concert series headlined by the band.
Today, Malik sees both advantages and challenges in the streaming era. The pro is that musicians can now reach a global audience without a record label, but the flip side is the challenge of standing out amid an 'oversupply' of music.
Malik recently underwent surgery for retinal displacement but was present at the band's June 13 concert in Delhi to mark its 35-year milestone, proving his dedication to the band.
